New Housing Policy Will Expand Residential Development Opportunities in Oneida Count

IDA PILOT Supports Picente’s Broader Housing Strategy

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. today announced the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) has approved a new Uniform Tax Exemption and Agency Benefits Policy aimed at expanding housing development opportunities throughout Oneida County.

The policy, approved by the OCIDA Board on May 15, broadens the types of housing projects eligible for incentives through property tax abatement and sales tax exemption on building materials, and is designed to address critical housing shortages identified in the county’s Housing Market Inventory Assessment and Strategy Report released last year. It supports rental, workforce, senior and owner-occupied housing developments while encouraging adaptive reuse, innovative housing construction, compact development, utilizing existing infrastructure, and projects that result in community-wide benefits.

During his State of the County Address earlier this month, Picente highlighted the policy as a key component of the county’s broader housing strategy.

“This is another major step forward in our effort to tackle the housing shortage that is impacting communities across Oneida County,” Picente said. “This policy expands the housing projects that can qualify for incentives through the IDA and creates new opportunities for developers to build the workforce, senior and owner-occupied housing our communities desperately need. It builds on our existing mixed-use housing policy and demonstrates our commitment to creating more housing options throughout the county.”

The policy was developed in response to findings from the county’s housing strategy report, which identified an aging housing stock, limited new development and increasing demand fueled by economic growth and new job opportunities in emerging industries.

Eligible projects under the policy include multifamily housing, townhomes, condominiums, mixed-use developments, workforce housing, senior housing, single-family homes and innovative housing types such as modular, manufactured and tiny homes. The policy establishes a scoring system that rewards projects incorporating adaptive reuse, compact development, green building practices, infrastructure utilization and community benefits.

Projects that meet eligibility requirements may qualify for varying levels of real property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions and mortgage recording tax exemptions.

“This policy creates a flexible framework that allows us to support a broader range of housing developments while ensuring projects provide meaningful community and economic benefits and contribute to the county’s tax base,” said OCIDA Executive Director Tim Fitzgerald. “It is designed to encourage smart, strategic growth that aligns with the county’s long-term housing and economic development goals.”

Picente noted the policy is only one component of the county’s larger housing initiative.

“While expanding incentives is important, we also need to continue working with local governments to cut through unnecessary red tape that slows housing development,” Picente said. “That is why the county recently released a step-by-step housing guidebook for municipalities to help streamline local processes and support an all-encompassing approach to housing development.”

The policy will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2033, unless extended or modified by the IDA. It can be viewed here.